21 hours ago
KC police response to Patriot Front was fair and just
The recent invasion of our fair city by outside Patriot Front demonstrators — I will not call them protesters because they have no logical reason to protest — was handled correctly by our police force. (June 2, 1A, 'Community unites after KC white nationalist protest')
These people stayed on the sidewalks, kept out of the streets, didn't break anything, didn't throw things at the police and didn't shout obscenities at the police or other people. It sounds as if a reasonably behaved group did its thing, however illogical it may seem to normal people, and then left us in peace.
The response of the police was restrained and appropriate. The days of 'Bull' Connor and his tactics are long gone, thank God. Peaceful protest is a constitutional right for everybody.
- Dick Davenport, Lee's Summit
I have always admired former Sen. John Danforth, even though I lean Democratic. While I totally agree with his recent Star guest commentary, 'We must stand up against the bully in the Oval Office' (May 29, 11A), his words would have more impact if he delivered them to his fellow Republicans currently in office.
Right now there is a dearth of leadership in this regard on both sides of the aisle. Perhaps we need to revisit where courageous leadership might start. Rereading Ecclesiasticus 4:25 onward, it counsels, 'Do not contradict the truth,' and 'Do not show partiality to a man of influence,' which seems to be the trend.
I'm just saying: Don't ask the little guy to start what seems to be withheld by your compatriots.
- Marilyn Schaeffer, Kansas City
Former U.S. Russian Ambassador Michael McFaul recently posted on X: 'The Trump team spends more time fretting about NATO expansion to the east than they do about Russian imperial expansion to the west. Bizarre.'
Bizarre is a good way to describe it, and so is predictable. Trump promised on the campaign trail that he would end the Ukraine war in 24 hours. He has also spread the lie and Russian talking point that Ukraine started the war when all of Europe knows damn well Putin started it.
Trump's response to any criticism of his policy is that the war never 'would never have happened' if he'd been president, as if his presence as leader of the free world would leave Russia and China shaking in their boots. Vladimir Putin continues to string along Trump and Ukraine while he bombs Ukrainian cities and kills civilians. Russia has never attacked a NATO country, and excluding Ukraine (a country fighting the war NATO was designed for) from NATO membership only does the Kremlin's work.
No other post-World War II U.S. president would have sold out a country like Ukraine fighting against a totalitarian Russia under the same circumstances.
- Mike McCaffree, Nevada, Missouri
As a grandmother and retired nurse, I prioritize health and safety. Recently, we upgraded our Mission condo with heat-pump systems for heating, cooling and hot water. These upgrades have made our home more comfortable and safer — especially now that our finished basement includes a bedroom. Removing gas appliances gives our family peace of mind about indoor air quality and carbon monoxide leaks.
We're also considering installing rooftop solar to reduce our reliance on Evergy, which wants to raise rates to build expensive new infrastructure. We'd rather keep more of our money in our pockets — and in our community — than send it to an investor-owned utility.
Home upgrades are more possible because of the 25C and 25D federal tax credits. We're counting on them, just like many of our neighbors and local businesses. These credits make high-efficiency technology accessible to more families, not just the wealthy.
But Congress is considering eliminating both credits at the end of 2025. Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran should reject that plan and protect the 25C and 25D tax credits. Kansans are counting on them.
- Ruth Rosell, Mission
We all want our children to be healthy and well educated. This gives them the tools to be financially independent, hold good jobs and contribute to the good of our neighbors. Healthy, educated children make the United States an even better place to live.
Dictators want the opposite. They like their people dumb, sick and poor because it makes it easier for them to rule and enrich themselves. They don't care about our neighbors' children, the kids at church or our own. Cutting Medicaid and research funding to universities makes us sick, destroys good education and lowers the chances of finding cures to make us healthy again.
Let's all go out and find good candidates who will make our nation's children healthy, happy and smart. Offer to help your candidates with their campaigns. Make the country a better place to live with your actions and your votes.
- Ellen Wentz, Kirkwood, Missouri
